Foundation stone to commence the work on the long-pending suspension pedestrian bridge between Sultan Battery and Thannirbhavi was laid on Friday. This is the second time that such an event is being organised.

In August 2010, the then Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had laid the foundation stone soon after sanctioning Rs. 12 crore for the project. “The function held today (Friday) symbolises commencement of the work related to the bridge,” said Deputy Speaker N. Yogish Bhat, who has been pushing the project.

Mr. Bhat said that initially, the cost of the pedestrian bridge was estimated at Rs. 5 crore; at the time it was supposed to have one ramp. After the soil test had been done, a technical report proposal was floated for a safe two ramps that would be able to withstand tsunami and earthquakes. The revised estimate worked out was Rs. 12 crore. “Cabinet approval was required for the altered plan and then the tender process had to be initiated. This took time. Now the work order has been issued,” Mr. Bhat told presspersons.

The bridge would be built by Yojaka (India) Private Limited; the company had been assigned the task of developing Thannirbhavi beach a year ago. “This will be the longest and widest suspension bridge in the region. We have planned to complete the project as soon as possible,” said Jagadish Boloor, Managing Director of Yojaka. The firm had been asked to complete the work in 11 months.

Mr. Boloor said that 70 per cent of the work on the bridge was mechanical and 20 per cent of it was civil in nature. Steel cables needed for the bridge would be imported. Mr. Bhat said Girish Bhandary, who was involved in laying many cable bridges in the region, was the consultant.

At the formal function earlier, Mr. Bhat said he had been working for the overall development of Mangalore. A cabinet approval was awaited for a 3D planetarium at Pilikula Biological Park. A Singapore-based firm had been approached for developing a golf course in Thannirbhavi. Mr. Bhat said he had proposed that old houses on 31 acres of land between Lady Hill and Kottara Chowki be repaired and around 800 flats be constructed by the Karnataka Housing Board.